WebRTC & SIP: Working Together

With the emergence of WebRTC, many in the industry questioned whether the end of SIP was nigh; was the revolutionary protocol really on its last legs or would WebRTC fail to live up to all that was promised to us, proving once and for all that SIP is here to stay. Despite these predictions, both technologies have earned their own special place in the business communications market and, although they perform similar functions, can both be utilized to complement one another.

WebRTC(or Web Real-Time Communication) is an API that allows browser to browser communications to be implemented into voice and video applications. The beauty of this is that in order to use WebRTC-based communications, there is no need for any software or plugin downloads.

SIP (or Session Initiation Protocol) is not an API and is the protocol for the signaling and controlling of audio and video communication. Where WebRTC is browser-based, SIP has a higher level of flexibility as it can run on any device or platform.

So how can these technologies work in unison to really bolster each other’s performance? While WebRTC is great for ad-hoc and external meetings where clients and partners will not need to download any software or plugins, SIP works great for the simple stuff, like voice calls and more traditional unified communications functions.

Additionally, WebRTC works best when supported by a protocol, such as SIP or SDP. SIP makes WebRTC better and WebRTC can make software phone systems, such as 3CX Phone System, much more well rounded solutions with communication capabilities for every task that employees are faced with, whether that be avideo conferencewith colleagues from a remote location, or a simple and hassle free sales pitch to a potential client.

SIP comes with a number of benefits, particularly when it comes to infrastructure and the savings relating to this as well as call costs. Being browser-based, WebRTC brings in it’s own advantages, especially for customer service, where WebRTC calls can be made straight from a company website, or features like remote control can be used to solve issues at the click of a button.

By choosing a platform that utilizes both SIP and WebRTC, users can enjoy all of the great advanced features and infrastructure that a UC system should provide, as well as secure and hassle-free browser-based communication.